Starting Chemo in April 2014

Thank you Cold!! I copied your saying a few posts back about putting your crown on and walking away like a boss and posted it to my facebook - I LOVED it!!  I remember so many days just wanting so badly to feel like myself again and have the energy I did prior to my surgery and chemo.  I was worried it'd be different or less than I had before - I really hope to give you all some encouragement when I say that it's slow, but day by day you start feeling a little better.  There might be a few set backs, but I promise it really does happen!!! :-)  Congratulations to you also on almost being done!!! AND THE NEW CAR!!! You look fantastic!

Now I just need to get used to these chemo induced hot flashes - whew!!! I used to be such a freeze baby (especially here in WI), but oh boy....I've become a furnace.  Kudos to you ladies who have "been there, done that" through menopause (or from chemo) and I know what I'm talking about! 

Oh MAN, I hear you about the hot flashes. Those things are killing me! It's like my insides are on fire, and I might spontaneously combust at any moment. Swissmiss, I hadn't even thought about them continuing AFTER chemo. Yikes! I'm only 39, so maybe the chemo-pause won't be permanent? 

Friday is creeping closer, and I am both excited to be finished chemo and dreading another trip to The Dark Place at the same time.  I keep reminding myself that THIS time there will be NO NEXT TIME. And it's funny, because while you're in the midst of chemo treatments, time moves along so SLOWLY, and you feel like it will NEVER end. And now, as I'm reaching the finish line, I look back and think: "WOW. I can't believe I'm already here." And also: "WOW. I did that. I survived it. I am SO much stronger than I thought." I'm high-fiving myself a lot lately.

Holly - That saying with the crown and the boss was originally shared on my FB page by a friend of mine who recently battled skin cancer and won. She is incredible, and has been one of my biggest cheerleaders.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Hey Swiss - Here is what I have been told about chemo-pause from my MO.  I am 36 so too early for real menopause, this should last 6-12 months and then I'll start getting my period again and the hot flashes should stop (or at least slow down greatly).  I also just started Tamoxifen which makes the hot flashes even worse, but that too should normalize around the 9-12 month time frame.

I'll also share that about 3-4 weeks after my last chemo I went through a really 'blue' phase of just feeling down and depressed.  It really surprised me!! I mean here I was, all finished with chemo and cancer free and I was feeling down and sorry for myself.  What the heck was that?!?!?  I guess I was just so focused on each "next" chemo treatment that there were some feelings in there that needed to come out.  Anyway, I share in case it happens to anyone else.  Thank God it was short lived - maybe 3-4 days.

Congratulations Nancybel!!! Yay!! and Cold on Friday!! :-)

Hot flashes are. the. worst. I am 43 and I too wonder if this will be a way of life for me? I had about a month solid of not-chemo-pause..but since May I've been off the hook there, but have started in the last couple of weeks to have the hot flashes actually wake me up. And if I'm wearing my wig when I get them, it's really uncomfortable. I'm like radiant heat in my bedroom so we also had to kick up the air a few notches so the hubby could sleep. I have one more Taxol tomorrow and then my final one next Tuesday. Yay for everyone finishing in the next days/weeks!!!! Hoping for quick SE resolution and on to bigger and better things.

Oh, the hot flashes! I get them throughout the day and during the night. Sunday I had found the energy to get off the couch, put on some clothes, and go for a walk. But on my way out the door I had a stupid hot flash and realized I did not want to be outside in the hot and humid DC weather when the next one hit. So I chickened out and went back inside. Lame, I know.

I'm in the chair tomorrow for 5 of 6. I've been feeling anxious about it since last week. I'm not sure why. I'm feeling tired and down all the time now so even my "good" days don't feel that good anymore. Even simple exercises make my arms and legs feel like I just did a triathalon. All this means I don't want to do anything or go anywhere. If I wasn't still working I think I would go days without ever leaving my apartment. Again, lame. My sister arrives on Friday to help me while I'm in the dark place.

Just two more chemo treatments. Then the joy of surgery.

One thing I've learned though all of this is to not get too down on myself for sitting on the couch all day long.  We're going though a lot...  It's been a huge change for me because I used to NEVER sit down, unless I was at work.  I just keep telling myself that this is temporary and we'll all be back and better than ever real soon!  You ladies hang in there...so close!! You can do it!!  Hugs!

Holly

Hi all,

Sharonde, thanks for sharing the light at the end of the tunnel!

Linda505, I'm so sorry you have job worries on top of everything.  That is not fair.  Hope things are looking a little better.

Jaimeeh, are you at Hopkins by chance?  (I understand if you don't want to get that detailed in a public forum!)  I only ask because I love my MO too.  And my mom loved hers.

Footballnut, sounds like you got some true compassionate care from your nurse - so glad to hear it.  And glad you are feeling well enough to exercise -- I'm sure that will help everything!

Jbokland, my top eyelashes have only fallen out on one side so I have that same awesome look, LOL.

Jhodro, can't imagine from your profile photo you being taken for a grandma.  I had the same experience with the teenage clerk when picking up some donuts for my kids (no, not my grandkids!) at the beach.  Teenagers can be so clueless.  At least she felt embarrassed about it.

ColdinCanada, congrats on your new car!  That is awesome!

Hollyhope, I had heard that bc patients sometimes have a tough emotional reaction when they get done with tx.  I could see that, because we are so focused on getting better and getting through tx, that we may not have time to process our emotions about it.  Hope you are feeling better.

Everforward, yay for a sister visit!  My mom and sister have both visited from across the country and it has helped a lot.

Sorry for being MIA.  I had my first Taxol on Thursday and thought everything was okay, but no, I guess that was just the steroids talking!  On Sat. I spiked a high fever and it has pretty much been going up and down since then.  I went to urgent care on Sat., and spent the night in the ER on Sunday, and all the bloodwork shows normal.  I am finally back to work today but promised my onco nurse I would call if the fever spiked while on Tylenol.  Sitting here looking at 102 (down from 103 30 minutes ago -- it is dropping fast.) 

Trying to rationalize not calling yet . . .   Just don't want to deal with the disruption to our lives -- we have 3 little kids so we have to impose on our friends, etc., just to go in and wait around for bloodwork.  I saw online that fevers, chills and body aches can be a normal side effect of Taxol -- has anyone experienced that?

Jbokland, I had an invasive tumor removed in February, but after 2 more lumpectomies she wasn't able to get clear margins (pesky DCIS). So I'll have a mastectomy some time after I finish chemo.

Thanks, everyone, for the hugs and encouragement. I'll get through this. What other choice is there?

Just about to have my 2nd round of AC. I think I prefer the Taxol/carboplatin to AC. Anyway, I wanted to stop by and let you ladies know about temporary eyebrow tattoos! My mother in law brought me some and oh my, they are so easy! Here are a few links that I found online.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EUG7ZUS/ref=oh...

http://www.curediva.com/chemotherapy/lashes-brows/...

Hope this helps. Feel free to pass it along

Lena- Lou I actually go to a hospital outside of Baltimore called GBMC. I love it there but it is a hike for me. 

1/2 way they taxol. Woohoo. Already have the bad mouth . Ready for Aug 26 to be here. 

You awesome ladies have been busy posting. Sorry about all the hot flush troubles.

Cold - I forgot to say congrats on your new SUV.  Very nice!

Glad footballnut is feeling better.  Now Lena needs to get that temperature in control.

And a shout out to Mame and Brigadoon.   Hope all is well.

We drove 600 miles today on our way from Florida to Maine.  I'm going to bed at 8pm.

Jamieh - I have been spending a lot of time on the Hair Hair Hair forum because I'm obsessed with it coming back now.  I came across a post of yours from 7-2-2009 believe it or not.  It was a picture at about 6 weeks PFC.  You asked the question of what color it would come in as.  That is exactly what I have been looking for.  I am naturally a very light to dishwater blonde and my hair is coming in white - like chick fuzz.  Can you please share what happened to yours when it came in then?  The pic below is from last week - 4 weeks PFC.   

it came in a mouset brown that wouldn't take hair dye at all. Every time I dyed it the hair turned orange which my hair dresser thinks was from the herceptin. That's funny you found my old post. I am back to obsessing about hair again. Lol. 

hi all

Wednesday already. In 1 week I'm back in the chair. Suspect that I will continue weekly for my last few weeks but I'll know more next tues when I meet with my onc. If I maintained my schedule it would be 2 more rounds every third week but given my reaction I see this changing 

As of today tummy is much better. Taste buds are off but atleast my tongue is not burning. I've also noticed that my nose is very dry and whenever I blow, seems bloody. I think that there are dry blood clots in there. Anyone else have this?

Having lost most of my eyelashes my eyes are sticky most mornings and often continues for the duration of the day. I sure hope that eyelashes grow back quickly!

I am finding it hard to get out of bed in the morning but have my hubby set the clock for 8am. I must admit that I'm having great sleeps although I something's wake up drenched or restless 

  I still have enough energy to exercise. Going on treadmill soon followed by weights. I hope that this helps!  I try to maintain this as much as possible

My left foot sometimes feels strange -weird  tingling or slightly numb but nothing too bothersome

Wishing you all a great day!

Hey FBN - glad to see you are feeling better!!  Nose issues - mine runs alot as the hairs are gone - with yours being dry and bloody you might want to ask what your platelets are at.  When they are low they can cause bloody nose and also bleeding elsewhere - definitely let the MO know about the bloody nose.   Tingly/numb foot - sounds like a bit of neuropathy - also let MO know - I had that pretty bad first treatment and very minimally since as they reduced my dosage do to the neuropathy.  Although mine got more intense then what you are describing - it went to burning pain after the tingling/numb phase.  Are you eyes running during the day?  Mine go through stage of being dry or runny - I also wake up with sticky stuff most mornings.  I am going to tell MO about this also as others have said that you can develop tear duct issues that may need attention